Centrifugally-operated clutch



- July 16, 1929. l GATELY 1,720,952

CENTRIF'UGALLY OPERATED CLUTCH Filed Dec. 3, 1927 INVENTOR aka W ATTORNEY Patented duly ltd, 1929.

' MARTIN HENRY GATELY, OF HENDERSON, NEBRASKA.

CENTRIFUGALLY-OPERA'I'ED CLUTCH.

Application filed December 3, 1927. Serial No. 237,531.

The object of this invention. is to provide a centritugrally operated clutch especially adapted for use on. "feed and. forage grinding machines. but also adapted for apparatus of other types wherein a controlling device including pivoted and weighted arms for connecting with a pulley and. fly wheel may be employed to advantage, and wherein locking and releasing means are provided between the wheel and a shaft on which the wheel is loosely mounted. I

A further object is to provide a centrifugally operatml clutch comprising arms moved by centrifugal action and cooperatinnwith each other and with a dog mounted on an element adapted to be made rigid. with reference to a shaft on which the pulley and 'tly wheel is loosely mounted said fly wheel however rotating with the shaft when the wheel has attained a predetermined momentum. or minimum speed, and when the pivoted arms, thrown outwardly, engage each other and engage a loclililn dog for etlectii'lg connection bet-ween the wheel. and shaft to be driven.

A. further object is to provide a device which will automatically release the connection between the pulley and fly wheel and its shaft in the event oi the machine 30 being retarded. or stopped by accident.

ll ith the foregoing and other objects in view. the invei'ition consists in the novel construction and arrangement of: elements described. illustrated. and claimed, it being understmnl that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing, from the spirit of the invention.

in the drawings forming part 01" this app l icati on Figure 1 is a view of the centrittugally operated clutch in elevation.

Figure 2 is also a view in elevation, the pivoted arms being; released from the dog, so that the wheel may run loose with reference to the shaft.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 oil. Figure 1.

The fly wheel is designated 10, and as used in my co-pending application, Serial No. 2237.530, this element constitutes a drivin; pulley wheel. Arms 11 and 12 are pivoted. respectively at 13 and 14 on wheel 10, and arm 11 includes end teeth 15 for cooperation with end teeth 16 on arm 12. The arm last named further includes a minimum.

shoulder 1?, and the arms each include a hall. or weight. as shown at 18 andv 19.

The shat t 20 has rigidly mounted. thereon a plate 21 including a collar or hub por-' tion 22. and this device is secured to the shaft by means of a set screw 23. A dog 25 is pivotally mounted at 26 on the plate 2i, and one end portion passes thru staple or loop member 27, permitting limited movement under the influence ot a spring Q8. The end of the dog 25 is bevelled, and is l'nrovided with a Sttttlg'lll) edge. portion adapted to cooperate with the shoulder 17 on arm 12. This arm last named. is connected by a retractile spring 30 with the rim portion of the wheel 10.

A flat surface 33 on the collar 22 is adapted. for engagement by the dog 25.

Assuming the wheel 10 is driven by a belt from another element of the machine carrying; the centrifugally operated clutch, this wheel 10 will rotate fireely until it has attained the sufficient speed to cause arms 11 and 12 to move outwardly under centrifugal action. This produces engagement between teeth 15 and 16, and engagement between the dog 25 and shoulder 17, so that the locking position of Figure 1 assumed. and shaft 20 will then rotate with the fly wheel, and will pick up the feeder of my co-pending application. Serial No. 237.530, at the same speed. at all times, regardless ot'the extent of the load, this pick up being" however at low speed.

Dog 25 is mounted as shown and extends parallel with the diameter of the plate 21 which is rigid with the shaft 20, and is limited in its movement under the action of spring 28. and this particular mounting pern'iits outward movement of the dog. from the axis of the shaft, and also permits the positive locking of the elements, so that there will be no slipping. and wear at. the points of engagement will be reduced to a The dog" yields under the action of spring 28 when the centrifugally operated clutch is in the position of Fig ure 2.

lVhat is claimed is 1. The combination with a loosely mounts ed fly wheel. of a plurality cl. weighted arms pivoted on the wheel and having their inner ends in proximity. these ends carrying engaging devices and one of the ends including a shoulder, a shaft on whichv the wheel is rotatable, an element rigid with the shaft and adjacent to the fly wheel, and a dog pivoted on said element and movable 0utwardly from the axis of the shaft, said do;- being engaged by the shoulder, when the outer ends of the arms move outwardly under centrifugal action.

2. The combination with a loosely mounted fly wheeh of a plurality of weighted arms pivoted on the wheel and having their inner ends in proximity. these ends carrying engaging; devices and one of the ends including a shoulder, a shaft on which the wheel is rotatable, a resilient device connected MARTIN HENRY GATELY. 

